In a landmark development, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reached a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by health care providers, including chiropractors. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing the nation into exclusive regions and limiting competition, which resulted in lower reimbursements for providers. Although BCBS denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation – and you can get a piece of the pie.
Division of Chiropractic Medicine Established at Philadelphia Hospital
Franklin Square Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a fully accredited 215-bed teaching hospital, recently established a division of chiropractic medicine. The division will function under the hospital's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The hospital's board of directors has approved DCs to act as primary care physicians within the hospital setting, consistent with their clinical training.
Eligibility for staff privileges requires that the DC be a graduate from a chiropractic college approved by a national chiropractic accrediting agency, which is fully approved by the United States Office of Education (USOE) and the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation (COPA).
Julius M. D'Angelantonio, D.C., and Marc C. Cohen, D.C., of the Pennsylvania Academy of Chiropractic Physicians (PACP) are chairman and co-chairman respectively of the chiropractic division. The PACP has been working continuously since its founding in 1978 to establish hospital privileges for DCs in Pennsylvania.